Ustad Zia Fariduddin Dagar , A Tribute

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA           MAY 10 , 2013           11.55 P.M.

Zia Fariduddin Dagar

15 June 1932 – May 8, 2013

I must state in the beginning that I am not an expert on Indian Classical Music , whether Hindustani or Karnatak . I am just a connoisseur , an ardent fan . I was introduced to Classical music by my friend Shri Lakshmi Kant Tiwari . When we both were living in Deoria , my native place , we used to meet almost every evening and talk about classical music , its various aspects and about various singers . He introduced me to the world of Pandit Onkar Nath Thakur , Pandit Bheem Sen Joshi , Pandit Jasraj , Pandit Rajan Mishra and Pandit Sajan Mishra and of course Dagar Brothers . He gave me cassettes of Pandit Onkar Nath Thakur and Dagar brothers . And thus a life-long addiction to Dhrupad started .

Dhrupad  is the oldest existing form of north Indian classical music (Hindustani classical music) . Ustad Nasiruddin Khan Dagar was the man responsible for the resurrection of Dhrupad in modern India . After his early and untimely demise , his sons Ustad Nasir Moinuddin Dagar and Ustad Nasir Aminuddin Dagar carried the flag forward and revived the Dhrupad tradition .

Ustad Zia Fariduddin Dagar was the one more torch-bearer of Dhrupad in the illustrious family of Dagars . He was the most influential Dhrupad vocalist in India after the senior Dagar Brothers ; Ustad Nasir Moinuddin Dagar & Ustad Nasir Aminuddin Dagar.

He toured in India and abroad for the propagation of Dhrupad . He performed widely in India and abroad . By 1980, he had virtually settled down in Austria teaching Dhrupad in Austria and France. Once, during a visit to India, one of his disciples, the filmmaker, Mani Kaul came to him and pleaded with him to provide the background score for a film, The Cloud Door (1994) ^,  he was making on Madhya Pradesh. During the making of the film, they spent over two months in Madhya Pradesh . Later on he settled in Bhopal and taught at the Dhrupad Kendra, Bhopal, along with his elder brother, Ustad Zia Mohiuddin Dagar for 25 years . There he trained students like the Gundecha Brothers.

He was awarded the 1994 Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in Hindustani music-Vocal by Sangeet Natak Akademi, India’s National Academy of Music, Dance and Drama.

Padma Shri- India’s fourth highest civilian honor been conferred upon him in year 2012 – but he turned it down, saying the government did not care about his seniority as he was chosen for it after much younger Dhrupad singers were conferred the honour.

He also received the Tansen Samman from the Madhya Pradesh government and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award. In 2005, he was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the North American Dhrupad Association.

He was a distinguished guest faculty at ‘Dhrupad Sansar’, IIT Bombay for a span of 5 years.

Later on towards the fag-end of his career,  he was staying and teaching at the Dhrupad Gurukul near Panvel, which was built by his elder brother Ustad Z. M. Dagar and continued to perform in India and abroad untill his brief illness and death on 8th May 2013.

On behalf of all the students and staff of VIDUR Acting Institute , which is known as Vidur’s Kreating Charakters  , I offer my heart-felt condolences on the sad demise of the titanic figure of Dhrupad tradition .

I am also grateful to my friend Shri Lakshmi Kant Tiwari for introducing me to the world of Dagar Brothers and Dhrupad .

[ Some facts about his life has been taken from Wikipedia . I am grateful . ]

VIDUR

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA

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Related articles

• The force behind Dhrupad’s revival (thehindu.com)

Dulari Ji Is Gone; Unwept, Unheard , Unsung !

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA           MAY 09 , 2013           06.45 P.M.

Dulari In Her Twilight Years

On Monday morning I was shocked to read the news of death of Dulari , a veteran yesteryear Hindi film actor . It is so heart-wrenching that she died in January 2013 and the news came in May 2013 , in Monday’s Times of India . If a popular actor dies and the news comes out a full four months later , it shows the callousness of our film industry . How come no one tried to contact her ? How come no one ever called her to say hi ? How come no one inquired about her health and well-being ? I must admit , our film industry is full of cussed , cruel and selfish people .

Today as I am writing this blog , I suddenly remember these lines , which was filmed on her in ” Devdas ” , a Bimal Roy classic .

साजन की हो गयी गोरी ………

अब घर  का आँगन बिदेस लागे  रे  , नैहर का जीवन कलेस लागे  रे …..

साजन की हो गयी गोरी ………

She left this ephemeral , painful world for her eternal journey . She joined her lover , the God , and became one with him .

A Young Dulari

Hindi cinema had many famous and powerful mother figures . Durga Khote , Lalita Pawar , Leela Chitnis , Kamini Kaushal , Achala Sachdev and Sulochna are some of the most famous mothers of Hindi cinema . In recent history Nirupa Roy became an ultimate mother figure . Dulari, though not as famous as her other illustrious peers , was also a popular mother figure of Hindi films .

Dulari – The Poorman’s Mother

She started as a heroine in a couple of films . Immortal hits like  ” Aana Meri Jaan Meri Jaan , Sunday Ke Sunday “  and ” Jawaani Ki Rail Chali Jaaye Re “ , both from ” Shehnai ” [ 1947 ] were filmed on her .

I first noticed her in Bimal Roy’s ” Devdas “ [ 1955 ] . Two songs , written by Sahir Ludhianvi and tuned by Sachin Dev Burman , were filmed on her . ” Aan Milo Aan Milo Shyam Sanware ” and ” Sajan Ki Ho Gayi Gori “ are connoisseurs delight even today .  She played a Vaishnavi Saint with Nana Palsikar as her screen companion . A young Paro , played by Baby Naaz , was sitting on a branch of a mango tree and was remembering Devdas , while Nana Palsikar sang the song and danced . Dulari was just sitting calmly and singing the female version sung by Geeta Dutt . Her calm and serene face remained in my memory . In the same film , years later , when Paro grew older [ played by etherial Suchitra Sen ] , she was again sitting and remembering Devdas . Again same Vaishnav saints came and started singing . Now the song was ” Sajan Ki Ho Gayi Gori ” . I am unable to forget these scenes , these two songs , melancholic face of Paro , played by Baby Naaz and Suchitra Sen respectively and of course Nana Palsikar and Dulari .

Then , years later I watched ” Padosan ” [ 1968 ] and ” Gopi ” [ 1973 ] . In both the films she played the maternal aunt of lead actors ; Sunil Dutt and Dilip Kumar . Memory of her earlier starrers ” Shehnai ” [ 1947 ] , and ” Devdas ” [ 1955 ] once again became fresh in my mind . It is not that I have seen only above mentioned 4 films . I have seen innumerable films of her . But these 4 remain in my memory .

Dulari as Mother Figure

A Kanyakubj Brahman from the Awadh region of Uttar Pradesh , she was born and brought up in Maharashtra . She spent her childhood in Nagpur , where she was born on 18^th April 1928. Her name was Ambika but she was nick-named Rajdulari and later on only Dulari remained and the world knew her as Dulari .

Dulari ji’s first film was ‘Bombay Talkies’s’ famous movie ” Jhoola “  [ 1941 ] with Ashok Kumar . Later on she played Jairaj’s younger sister in a Bombay Talkies film ‘Hamari Baat’ . She was also seen as the second lead in  ‘Amar Pictures’ film ‘Adaab Arz’ where her leading man was the famous singer Mukesh . Both the films were made in 1944 .

shayar

Later on she played small roles in films like ” Ghar ” [ 1945 ] , ” Kulkalank “  [ 1945 ] , ‘Ahinsa’, ‘Black Market’, ‘Namak’, ‘Pati Sewa’, ‘Rangeen Kahani’ [ all 1947 ] . But Dulari got her real due with ‘Filmistan’s super hit film ” Shehnai ” [ 1947 ] . She played Rehana’s elder sister in the movie and her leading man was Mehmood’s father Mumtaz Ali . As I mentioned earlier two immortal songs were picturized on her in this film . ” Aana Meri Jaan Meri Jaan , Sunday Ke Sunday “  and ” Jawaani Ki Rail Chali Jaaye Re “ .

After ” Shehnai “ she did films like ” Gunsundari ” , ” Mitti Ke Khilone ” , ” Naav’ ” [ all 1948 ] , ” Nanad Bhaujai ” , ” Shayar “  [ both 1949 ] , ” Apni Chhaya ” , ” Man Ka Meet “  [ both 1950 ] , ” Albela “  [ 1951 ], ” Anjaam ” , ” Bhoole Bhatke ” and ” Veer Arjun “  [ all 1952 ] .

Dulari was seen in an important role in the movie ” Paapi ” [ 1953 ] . In this Ranjeet Movietone film Raj Kapoor played his career’s only double role. Nargis and Dulari played his two heroines .  After it she worked in ” Jeewan Jyoti ” [ 1953 ] , ” Devdas “  [ 1955 ] , ” Zindagi Ke Mele “  [ 1956 ] , ” Ek Gaon Ki Kahani ” , ” Johny Walker ” ,  ” Paying Guest “  [ all 1957 ] ,  ” Kavi Kalidas “  and ” Santaan ” [ 1959 ] .

Devdas (1955 film) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

After 1959 , after two years hiatus , she started her second innings from 1961 and for the next 35 years, Dulari played many big and small roles in almost 135 films like ‘Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai’, ‘Mujhe Jeene Do’, ‘Apne Hue Paraye’, ‘Aap Aaye bahaar Aai’, ‘Aaye Din Bahaar Ke’, Anupama’, ‘Teesri Kasam’, ‘Padosan’, ‘Aradhna’, ‘Aaya Sawan Jhoom Ke’, ‘Chiraagh’, ‘Inteqaam’, ‘Aan Milo Sajna’, ‘Heer Ranjha’, ‘Johny Mera Naam’, ‘Caravan’, ‘Laal Patthar’, ‘Beimaan’, ‘Seeta Aur Geeta’, ‘Raja Rani’, ‘Ameer Gareeb’, ‘Haath Ki Safai’, ‘Deewar’, ‘Do Jasoos’, ‘Aahuti’, ‘Ganga Ki Saugandh’, ‘Biwi O Biwi’, ‘Naseeb’, ‘Prem Rog’, ‘Agar Tum Na Hote and ‘Dharmadhikari’. And then one day she quietly retired from the world of movies.

Later on she did only two films . ” Surya ” [ 1989 ] and ” Ziddi ” [ 1997 ] . Ziddi directed by Guddu Dhanoa is her last film . Thus from ” Jhoola “  [ 1941 ] to ” Ziddi ” [ 1997 ] , her career span was 56 years .

After a career spanning 56 years and after 171 hindi, 35 Gujarati, 3 Marathi and 1 Rajasthani film , she left Mumbai and went to live with her daughter in Indore . She also acted in a ‘Shri Adhikari Brothers’ serial called ‘Waqt Ki Raftaar’ .

During her final years Dulari ji was suffering from Alzheimer and was admitted to ICU in a hospital in PUNE in the last week of December ’12 where at the age of 85 she breathed her last on 18th January 2013 around 10 a.m. She was cremated on 19th January 2013 in the noon in Pune.

…………………………………………………………………………………

Few links of songs filmed on Dulari :

1 – aana meri jaan sunday ke sunday /shehnai/1947

http://youtu.be/eQT_HmOUdRc

2 – jawani ki rail chali jaaye/shehnai/1947

http://youtu.be/oVU-LNCiHWc

3 – aan milo aan milo shyam sanware/devdas/1955

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bUkuqTgeqc&feature=share&list=PL8D7917AD954EC446

4 – sajan ki ho gai gori/devdas/1955

http://youtu.be/9-Ij7oJlUlo

5 – madhav bin saara brij soona/sautela bhai/1962

http://youtu.be/Sv5V4-uSZrY

 …………………………………………………………………………………

I offer my condolences on behalf myself and on behalf of all the students and staff of VIDUR Acting Institute , which is known as Vidur’s Kreating Charakters . May God give eternal peace to Dulari Ji and strength to her daughter and other near and dear ones to bear this loss .

I can visualize a frail ,  85-year-old , lonely lady suffering from Alzheimer , sitting without a friend or companion in an old age home with blank eyes and waiting for some elusive loving one . Long windy nights of winter , dull and dusty days of summer and wet , pouring and dreary evenings of  rainy season must have come and gone  without any trace of succour . It is painful , very painful . Finally , only death could relieve her from her pain .

साजन की हो गयी गोरी ………

अब घर  का आँगन बिदेस लागे  रे  , नैहर का जीवन कलेस लागे  रे …..

साजन की हो गयी गोरी ………

Rest in peace Dulari ji ! A tearful farewell from an ardent fan . I am happy that you left this cruel , selfish , cussed world . May , in next life , you get everything that you have ever desired for you .

[ While writing this blog , I have taken few facts and materials from the article " Aan Milo Aan Milo Shyam Sanware’-Dulari " , written by Shri Shishir Krishna Sharma for his ‘Sahara Samay’ column ‘kya bhooloon kya yaad karoon’ . I am indebted . ]

VIDUR

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA

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Shamshad Begum : छोड़ बाबुल का घर, आज पी के नगर, मोहे जाना पड़ा

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA           APRIL 30 , 2013           07.00 P.M.

Shamshad Begum

April 14, 1919 – April 23, 2013

Shamshad Begum was one of the first playback singers in the Hindi film industry. She had sung over 6000 songs in Hindi , Bengali, Marathi, Gujarati, Tamil and Punjabi languages. Her songs from the 1940s to the early 1970s remain popular and continue to be remixed.

Young Shamshad Begum

Shamshad Begum died this month on April 23 , 2013 at the age of 94 and I am forced to write 7th obituary in continuation in the month of April . Shamshad Begum , along with Noor Jahan and Amirbai Karnataki , dominated the pre-Lata Mangeshkar era in Indian playback singing .

Among female playback singers , She was blessed with a distinct voice with slight nasal twang and any lover of Hindi film music can immediately recognize her voice .

Since I was born and brought up in the Lata Mangeshkar era , I was not a fan of Shamshad Begum’s voice initially. But slowly , as my understanding grew , I started appreciating her voice .

The first song of hers , which caught my fancy , was ” Pee Ke Ghar Aaj Pyari Dulhaniya Chali ” . This ” Mother India ” [ 1957 ] song was immensely popular . Other songs of the same film ; ” Holi Ayee Re Kanhayi Rang Chhalke Suna De Zara Bansuri ” and ” Gadiwale Gadi Dheere Haank Re “ are also hit even today . Then I watched ” Mughal – E – Azam ” [ 1960] and its immortal qawwali is still fresh in my mind . ” Teri Mehfil Me Qismat Azma Ke Hum Bhi Dekhenge “ is a connoisseur’s delight . Then I watched ” Aan ” [ 1952 ] and I was permanently hooked to Shamshad Begum’s voice . All her popular songs , like ; ” Aag Lagi Tan Man Me Dil Ko Pada Thamna , Ram Jaane Kab Hoga Saiyyan Ji Ka Samna ” and ” Khelo Rang Hamare Sang Aaj Din Rang Rangeela Aaya “ are still my favourites . But ” C. I. D. ” [ 1956 ] was another revelation . ” Le Ke Pehla Pehla Pyaar , Bhar Ke Aankhon Me Khumar ” and ” Kahin Pe Nigahen Kahin Pe Nishana , Jeene Do Zalim Banao Na Deewana “ are just immortal . It is surprising that I heard her most popular song very late in my life . ” Mere Piya Gaye Rangoon Kiya Hai Wahan Se Telefoon , Tumhari Yaad Satati Hai “ . This song from ” Patanga ” [ 1949 ] is unforgettable and its several re-mixed versions are still extremely popular . ” Naya Daur ” [ 1957 ] film’s ” Reshmi Salwar Kurta Jaali Ka “ was a craze of its time . Her last hit  ” Kajra Mohabbatwala Ankhiyon Me Aisa Dala “  from ” Kismat ” [ 1969 ] is one of the songs which was re-mixed again & again .

Shamshad Begum’s career was somewhat eclipsed with the advent of Lata Mangeshkar . She sang her first duet ” Dar Na Mohabbat Kar Le “ with Lata Mangeshkar in ” Andaz ” [ 1949 ] and her last duet with Lata Mangeshkar was ” Teri Mehfil Me Qismat Azma Kar Hum Bhi Dekhenge “ from ” Mughal – E – Azam ” [ 1960 ] . Within these 13 years Shamshad Begum’s career went downhill and after giving her last hit ” Kajra Mohabbatwala “ in 1969 , she bid adieu to playback singing .

Some Famous Songs of Shamshad Begum :

• Leke pehla pehla pyar, (CID 1956), (music: O.P. Nayyar)
• Milte hi aankhen dil hua, (Duet with Talat Mehmood), (Babul), (music: Naushad)
• Chali chali kaisi yeh hawa yeh, (Duet with Usha Mangeshkar), (Bluffmaster 1965), (music: Kalyanji Anandji)
• Kabhi aar kabhi paar lagathi re nazar, (Aar Paar), (music: O.P. Nayyar)
• O Gadiwale Dheere – Mother India – Naushad
• Kahin pe nigahen kahin pe nishana – CID (1956) – music O.P. Nayyar
• Boojh Mera Kya Naam Re – (1956) – music O.P.Nayyar
• Mere piya gaye Rangoon – Patanga – music C.Ramchandra
• Ek Tera Sahara – Shama – music Master Ghulam Haider
• Holi aayee re Kanhaai – Mother India (1957) – Lyrics: Shakeel Badayuni, Music: Naushad
• Naina Bhar aye neer – Humayun – music Master Ghulam Haider
• Nazar Phero Na Humse -(Duet with G M Durani) – Deedar (1951) – music Naushad
• Chod Babul Ka Ghar – Babul – music Naushad
• Kajra Mohabbatwala Ankhiyon mein Aisa dala (Duet with Asha Bhosle) – Kismat (1968) – Music: O.P. Nayyar
• Meri neendon main tum, meri khwabon mein tum (Duet with Kishore Kumar) – Naya Andaz – Music: O.P.Nayyar
• Teri Mehfil Mein Qismat (Duet with Lata Mangeshkar) – Mughal-E-Azam
• Saiyan Dil mein aana re – Bahar
• Reshmi salwar kurta jaali da – Naya Daur
• Milte Hai Ankhen Dil Deewana Hua Kisika – Babul – with Talat Mahmood
• Kisike Dil Mein Rehna Tha – Babul – with Lata
• Dharti Ko Aakash Pukare – Mela – with Mukesh
• do teen aaja mausam hai rangeen – Awara

Shamshad Begum’s fans often allege that her career suffered because of the monopolistic politics of Lata Mangeshkar . I beg to differ . Shamshad Begum played her innings and retired gracefully . Her career suffered because of the changing times and changing taste of film-goers . Talat Memood’s career went downhill with the advent of Mohammad Rafi . Even mighty Mohammed Rafi , towards the end of his career , was confined in his home for many years without recording a single song and Kishore Kumar ruled that era . In the field of art such things happen .

Her distinct style , her nasal twang and her strong voice , which was her forte in the earlier years of her career , became her nemesis towards the end . It is not for nothing that towards the fag-end of her career , her voice was used for vamps and her last hit ” Kajra Mohabbatwala “ in ” Kismat ” [ 1969 ] was filmed on Vishwajeet , who was masquerading as woman in the said film .

On behalf of all the students and staff of VIDUR Acting Institute , which is known as  Vidur’s Kreating Charakters  , I offer my condolences to the family of the iconic singer . Self-proclaimed most famous acting school of Mumbai , self-anointed most famous acting institute of India and self-appointed most famous acting academy of bollywood has no time for such courtesy .

Shamshad Begum

May her soul rest in peace ! Her ephemeral body is gone but her perennial voice , the temple bell , will live on forever .

VIDUR

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA

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Remembering Margaret Thatcher ; The Iron Lady

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA           APRIL 18 , 2013           10.45 P.M.

Alas !!

This is my 6th obituary in April and the month is yet to get over . I am extremely sad that in April so many luminaries from various walks of life left us for their final journey . First Hugo Chavez , then B. M. Vyas , then Ruth Prawer Jhabvala , then Roger Ebert , then P. B. Sreenivas and now Margaret Thatcher , The Iron Lady , the first and only woman Prime Minister of Great Britain also left us . Margaret Thatcher was not only the first woman Prime Minister of Britain but she was one of the longest-serving Prime Minister of the country .

Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Margaret Hilda Thatcher

Baroness Thatcher

13 October 1925 – 8 April 2013

Margaret Thatcher was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990 and the Leader of the Conservative Party from 1975 to 1990.

A Soviet journalist called her the “Iron Lady“, a nickname that became associated with her uncompromising politics and leadership style. As Prime Minister, she implemented policies that have come to be known as Thatcherism.

Edward Heath appointed her Secretary of State for Education and Science in his 1970 government. In 1975, Thatcher defeated Heath in the Conservative Party leadership election to become Leader of the Opposition and became the first woman to lead a major political party in the United Kingdom. She became Prime Minister after winning the 1979 general election.

While in the office , Thatcher introduced a series of political and economic initiatives intended to reverse high unemployment and Britain’s struggles in the wake of the Winter of Discontent and an ongoing recession . Her political philosophy and economic policies emphasised deregulation , flexible labour markets, the privatisation of state-owned companies, and reducing the power and influence of trade unions.

The 1982 Falklands War brought a resurgence of support for her , resulting in her re-election in 1983.

Thatcher was re-elected for a third term in 1987. During this period her support for a Community Charge (popularly referred to as “poll tax”) was widely unpopular and her views on the European Community were not shared by others in her Cabinet. She resigned as Prime Minister and party leader in November 1990, after Michael Heseltine launched a challenge to her leadership.

After retiring from the Commons in 1992, she was given a life peerage as Baroness Thatcher, of Kesteven in the County of Lincolnshire, which entitled her to sit in the House of Lords.

She effectively retired from politics due to ill-health in 2002 following a stroke, and on 8 April 2013, she died of another stroke in London at the age of 87.

These days world is ravaged by the numerous small and big battles being fought in the various countries of the world . But in those comparatively peaceful days , the 1982 Falklands War is the only war , apart from Indo-China War in 1962 and Indo-Pakistan Wars in 1965 & 1971 , which I vividly remember . I started admiring Margaret Thatcher after the Falklands War .

I am not a war-monger , but I liked the way Margaret Thatcher handled the Falklands crisis . My admiration for her became stronger when I read about her bold decisions , which she took for the betterment of her country . It is not for nothing that she is admired by so many people all over the world .

It is disgusting that a microscopic minority is celebrating her death . At least they should learn to respect an old lady , who served her country to the best of her ability and served with true grit and unflinching determination .

Anti-Margaret Thatcher badge (Photo credit: dannybirchall)

Margaret Thatcher toilet paper (Photo credit: Ulleskelf)

Two images which I have posted above are in bad taste . This is not the way to treat a lady , an old lady , a dead lady . But figure bears true testimony . There were more than 4000 well-wishers clapping all along the way and there were only 200 ill-wishers showing their back and shrieking , ” witch …… witch ……… witch . I condemn these uncouth protesters .

On behalf of all the students and staff of VIDUR Acting Institute , which is known as  Vidur’s Kreating Charakters  , I offer my heartfelt condolences to the near and dear ones of Baroness Thatcher .

My acting institute is not the most famous acting school of Mumbai , or the most famous acting institute of India and or the most famous acting academy of bollywood , but I consider it my duty to offer my condolences and express my respect for the one of the greatest British leaders of our time .

[ Some facts and figures of this blog has been taken from Wikipedia and is being re-produced here . I express gratitude . ]

VIDUR

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA

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P. B. Sreenivas : The Golden Voice Is No More

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA           APRIL 18, 2013           00.50 A.M.

Legendary playback singer P. B. Sreenivas a.k.a. PBS died on April 14, 2013 in Chennai at the age of 82 .

P. B. Sreenivas

He made his début in 1952 in Gemini’s Hindi film “ Mr Sampat ”, where his song “Aji hum Bharat ki naari”, a duet with Geeta Dutt, became popular. I still remember ” Mr. Sampat “ because of the sterling performance of Late Moti Lal , who played the lead in the film . He played a con man and played it with such aplomb , that his sherwani clad persona with swagger in his walk is still etched in my memory and his histrionics is still fresh . Though I had forgotten the above mentioned song .

PBS sang his most popular duet in Hindi “ Chanda Se Hoga Wo Pyaara , Phoolon Se Hoga Wo Nyara ; Naachega Aangan Men Chham Chham , Nanha Sa Munna Hamara ” with Lata Mangeshkar in the film “ Main Bhi Ladki Hoon ” in 1964 . Music director of this song was Chitragupta and lyrics were written by Rajendra Krishan . It is sad that till recently I was under impression that the male voice in this song is of Hemant Kumar . It is only after the death of PBS that I got to know through the newspaper articles that the male singer in this song is P. B. Sreenivas and not Hemant Kumar .

This film was made by A.V.M. studio Chennai and it had Meena Kumari and Dharmendra in stellar role . Balraj Sahni , Om Prakash , Manorama and Bhagwan Dada also starred in the film . Meena Kumari’s enchanting persona and this melodious song is still remembered by the connoisseurs of Hindi cinema . ” Main Bhi Ladki Hoon “ is unforgettable even today .

Lata Mangeshkar as a young woman (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Meena Kumari (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Dharmendra (Photo credit: Kaddele)

Though PBS had hit numbers in all the languages that he sang, it was in the Kannada Film Industry that he sang the highest number of songs and delivered the highest number of hits. P. B. Sreenivas ruled the Kannada Industry for over three decades and was the voice for Super Star Dr. Rajkumar . His first song for Rajkumar was in 1956 film ” Ohileshwara “ . He , later on , sang almost 300 hit songs for the Kannada Super Star .

In the Tamil industry, his maximum number of songs are for Gemini Ganesan. The most memorable hit of this duo was ‘Nilave ennidam nerungathe’.

 

Gemini Ganesan in the 1947 Tamil film Miss Malini (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

 

Gemini Ganesan & PBS

He had sung for other actors as well but incidentally, he had sung very few songs for M. G. Ramachandran and Sivaji Ganesan .

Legend of Kannada cinema industry, Dr. Rajkumar. This was clicked in his residence on Oct 1993. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

With Dr. Rajkumar

Almost all his Kannada songs became famous and though he sang in many languages , he is considered a Kannadiga playback singer .

Most famous acting school of Mumbai , or most famous acting institute of India , or most famous acting academy of bollywood will not recognise him . They are oblivious of his contribution . God bless them !

On behalf of all the students and staff of  VIDUR Acting Institute , which is known as  Vidur’s Kreating Charakters  , I offer my heartfelt condolences .

May eternal peace be bestowed on him !

VIDUR

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA

www.vidur.co.in

www.kreatingcharakters.net

www.facebook.com/VidursKreatingCharacters

www.facebook.com/vidur.chaturvedi

www.vidurfilms.com

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www.twitter.com/VidurChaturvedi

www.jaibhojpuri.com/profile/VidurChaturvedi

Related articles

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• Veteran singer PBS passes away (thehindu.com)
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Roger Ebert – A Film Critic With Poet’s Heart

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA           APRIL 11 , 2013           04.35 P.M.

Roger Ebert Memorial Portrait (Photo credit: faithmouse)

Roger Ebert , the renowned US film critic and TV anchor , who was almost as famous as many of the Hollywood stars , died on April 04 , 2013 aged 70. It is sad that I got introduced to his world very late in my life . I am thankful to internet that I could know him intimately through his blogs , his twitter-handle and his hugely popular columns in newspapers . Now I do follow him on twitter but it all started recently . It all began just now .

Roger Ebert, American Film Critic. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Roger Joseph Ebert

June 18, 1942 – April 4, 2013

” No good film is too long and no bad movie is short enough ”.

Roger Ebert was an American journalist, film critic, and screenwriter . He was a film critic for the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until his death . In 1975, he was the first film critic to win the Pulitzer Prize for Criticism, an award given to newspaper writers . As of 2010, his reviews were syndicated to more than 200 newspapers in the United States and abroad . Ebert also published more than 20 books and dozens of collections of reviews .

Described as a “critic with the soul of a poet” Roger Ebert was named the most powerful critic in America by Forbes in 2007.

Writing on his blog on Tuesday i.e. April 02 , 2013 , he said he planned to take a “leave of presence”. He explained: “It means I am not going away. My intent is to continue to write selected reviews but to leave the rest to a talented team of writers handpicked and greatly admired by me. I’ll be able at last to do what I’ve always fantasized about doing : reviewing only the movies I want to review.”

But two days later on April 04 , 2013 , he died early in the afternoon at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago.

Ebert, a guest lecturer at the University of Chicago, was said to have been “prolific, almost to the point of disbelief” with the weekend section of the Sun-Times often featuring as many as nine of his interviews, profiles and reviews.

His work included interviews and profiles of notable actors and directors in addition to his reviews – celebrating such legends as Alfred Hitchcock, John Wayne and Robert Mitchum.

In 1969 he took a leave of absence from the Sun-Times to write the screenplay of ” Beyond the Valley of the Dolls “ for Russ Meyer .

Cover of Beyond the Valley of the Dolls

He also found television fame on Sneak Previews on PBS . It made Ebert a household name along with fellow critic Gene Siskel – who died in 1999 .  Ebert’s television career was curtailed in 2002 when he was diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer. He was unable to speak and eat after further surgery in 2006.

Movie critic Gene Siskel at the Governor’s Ball party after the 1989 Academy Awards, March 29, 1989 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Writing his last blog this week in April 2013 he said: “It really stinks that the cancer has returned and that I have spent too many days in the hospital . So, on bad days I may write about the vulnerability that accompanies illness. On good days, I may wax ecstatic about a movie so good it transports me beyond illness.”

His thumbs up and thumbs down reviews were very famous among the connoisseurs of cinema , who read his column or watched his show .

Thumbs down : Classic Ebert reviews :

Stargate (1994) “The movie Ed Wood, about the worst director of all time, was made to prepare us for Stargate.”

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009) “If you want to save yourself the ticket price, go into the kitchen, cue up a male choir singing the music of hell, and get a kid to start banging pots and pans together. Then close your eyes and use your imagination.”

Battlefield Earth (2000) “Battlefield Earth is like taking a bus trip with someone who has needed a bath for a long time. It’s not merely bad; it’s unpleasant in a hostile way

Armageddon (1998) “No matter what they’re charging to get in, it’s worth more to get out.”

North (1994) “I hated this movie. Hated, hated, hated, hated, hated this movie. Hated it. Hated every simpering stupid vacant audience-insulting moment of it. Hated the sensibility that thought anyone would like it. Hated the implied insult to the audience by its belief that anyone would be entertained by it.”

His last blog amplifies his persona in the best possible way . I am re-producing the whole piece from his website :

A Leave of Presence

by Roger Ebert

April 2, 2013   |   1032

Thank you. Forty-six years ago on April 3, 1967, I became the film critic for the Chicago Sun-Times. Some of you have read my reviews and columns and even written to me since that time. Others were introduced to my film criticism through the television show, my books, the website, the film festival, or the Ebert Club and newsletter.  However you came to know me, I’m glad you did and thank you for being the best readers any film critic could ask for.

Typically, I write over 200 reviews a year for the Sun-Times that are carried by Universal Press Syndicate in some 200 newspapers. Last year, I wrote the most of my career, including 306 movie reviews, a blog post or two a week, and assorted other articles. I must slow down now, which is why I’m taking what I like to call “a leave of presence.”

What in the world is a leave of presence? It means I am not going away. My intent is to continue to write selected reviews but to leave the rest to a talented team of writers handpicked and greatly admired by me. What’s more, I’ll be able at last to do what I’ve always fantasized about doing: reviewing only the movies I want to review.

At the same time, I am re-launching the new and improved Rogerebert.com and taking ownership of the site under a separate entity, Ebert Digital, run by me, my beloved wife, Chaz, and our brilliant friend, Josh Golden of Table XI. Stepping away from the day-to-day grind will enable me to continue as a film critic for the Chicago Sun-Times, and roll out other projects under the Ebert brand in the coming year.

Ebertfest, my annual film festival, celebrating its 15th year, will continue at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, my alma mater and home town, April 17-21. In response to your repeated requests to bring back the TV show “At the Movies,” I am launching a fundraising campaign via Kickstarter in the next couple of weeks. And gamers beware, I am even thinking about a movie version of a video game or mobile app. Once completed, you can engage me in debate on whether you think it is art.

And I continue to cooperate with the talented filmmaker Steve James on the bio-documentary he, Steve Zaillian and Martin Scorsese are making about my life. I am humbled that anyone would even think to do it, but I am also grateful.

Of course, there will be some changes. The immediate reason for my “leave of presence” is my health. The “painful fracture” that made it difficult for me to walk has recently been revealed to be a cancer. It is being treated with radiation, which has made it impossible for me to attend as many movies as I used to. I have been watching more of them on screener copies that the studios have been kind enough to send to me. My friend and colleague Richard Roeper and other critics have stepped up and kept the newspaper and website current with reviews of all the major releases. So we have and will continue to go on. At this point in my life, in addition to writing about movies, I may write about what it’s like to cope with health challenges and the limitations they can force upon you. It really stinks that the cancer has returned and that I have spent too many days in the hospital. So on bad days I may write about the vulnerability that accompanies illness. On good days, I may wax ecstatic about a movie so good it transports me beyond illness.

I’ll also be able to review classics for my “Great Movies” collection, which has produced three books and could justify a fourth.

For now, I am throwing myself into Ebert Digital and the redesigned, highly interactive and searchable Rogerebert.com. You’ll learn more about its exciting new features on April 9 when the site is launched. In addition to housing an archive of more than 10,000 of my reviews dating back to 1967 we will also feature reviews written by other critics. You may disagree with them like you have with me, but will nonetheless appreciate what they bring to the party. Some I recruited from the ranks of my Far Flung Correspondents, an inspiration I had four years ago when I noticed how many of the comments on my blog came from foreign lands and how knowledgeable they were about cinema.

We’ll be recruiting more critics and it is my hope that some of the writers I have admired over the years will be among them. We’ll offer many more reviews of Indie, foreign, documentary and restored classic revivals. As the space between broadcast television, cable and the internet morph into a hybrid of content, we will continue to spotlight the musings of Pulitzer Prize-winning TV critic Tom Shales, as well as the blog “Scanners” by Jim Emerson, who I first met at Microsoft when he edited Cinemania. The Ebert Club newsletter, under editor Marie Haws of Vancouver, will be expanded to give its thousands of subscribers even bigger and better benefits.

For years I devoutly took every one of my tear sheets, folded them and added them to a pile on my desk. The photo above shows the height of that pile in 1985 as it appeared on the cover of my first book about the movies published by my old friends John McMeel and Donna Martin of Andrews & McMeel. Today, because of technology, the opportunities to become bigger, better and reach more people are piling up too. The fact that we’re re-launching the site now, in the midst of other challenges, should give you an idea how important Rogerebert.com and Ebert Digital are to Chaz and me. I hope you’ll stop by, and look for me. I’ll be there.

So on this day of reflection I say again, thank you for going on this journey with me. I’ll see you at the movies.

[ Above portion is Taken from his website ]

Ebert compiled “best of the year” movie lists beginning in the 1960s, thereby helping provide an overview of his critical preferences . His top choices were :

1967: Bonnie and Clyde 1968: The Battle of Algiers 1969: Z 1970: Five Easy Pieces 1971: The Last Picture Show 1972: The Godfather 1973: Cries and Whispers 1974: Scenes from a Marriage 1975: Nashville 1976: Small Change 1977: 3 Women 1978: An Unmarried Woman 1979: Apocalypse Now 1980: The Black Stallion 1981: My Dinner with Andre

1982: Sophie’s Choice 1983: The Right Stuff 1984: Amadeus 1985: The Color Purple 1986: Platoon 1987: House of Games 1988: Mississippi Burning 1989: Do the Right Thing 1990: Goodfellas 1991: JFK 1992: Malcolm X 1993: Schindler’s List 1994: Hoop Dreams 1995: Leaving Las Vegas 1996: Fargo

1997: Eve’s Bayou 1998: Dark City 1999: Being John Malkovich 2000: Almost Famous 2001: Monster’s Ball 2002: Minority Report 2003: Monster 2004: Million Dollar Baby 2005: Crash 2006: Pan’s Labyrinth 2007: Juno 2008: Synecdoche, New York 2009: The Hurt Locker 2010: The Social Network 2011: A Separation 2012: Argo

On behalf of all the students and staff of my acting institute  Vidur’s Kreating Charakters  , I offer my condolences to Ebert’s wife Madame Chaz Hammel-Smith and his family and admirers .

I may not be running the most famous acting school of Mumbai , or the most famous acting institute of India , or the most famous acting academy of bollywood , or the most famous acting institute of the world , I may be small and very insignificant , but I thought it proper to offer my condolences to Madame Chaz and show my respect to the most famous film critic of the world . On his death even Barack Obama , the president of United States of America , expressed his grief . It shows his stature and importance .

Rest in peace sir ! You will be missed a lot . I will always be in touch with you through your website and your books . I will always regret the fact that I came to know you when the end was so close .

[ This blog is not entirely written by me . Name of the movies posted above is taken from Wikipedia . Long introduction of Roger Ebert is taken from his website and his thumbs down quotes about movies have been taken from the various sources and articles posted on the internet . I am indebted and express my gratitude .]

VIDUR

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA

www.vidur.co.in

www.kreatingcharakters.net

www.facebook.com/VidursKreatingCharacters

www.facebook.com/vidur.chaturvedi

www.vidurfilms.com

www.youtube.com/ividur

www.twitter.com/VidurChaturvedi

www.jaibhojpuri.com/profile/VidurChaturvedi

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Remembering Ruth Prawer Jhabvala

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA           APRIL 10 , 2013           01.10 A.M.

Ruth Prawer Jhabvala , CBE

7 May 1927 – 3 April 2013

Ruth Prawer Jhabvala in Younger Days

Ruth Prawer Jhabvala

She was a German-born British and American Booker prize-winning novelist, short story writer and two-time Academy Award-winning screenwriter. Ruth Prawer Jhabvala wrote a dozen novels, 23 screenplays and eight collections of short stories . She was made a CBE in 1998 ^. She is the only person to ever have won both a Booker Prize and an Oscar.

She mainly wrote screenplay for Merchant Ivory Productions . In 1963, Jhabvala was approached by James Ivory and Ismail Merchant to write a screenplay for their debut film ” The Householder  ” based on her 1960 novel.  The movie, released by Merchant Ivory Productions in 1963 and starring Shashi Kapoor and Leela Naidu met with critical praise and it marked the beginning of a partnership that resulted in over 20 films.

The Triumvirate : Ivory , Merchant & Jhabvala

The Householder was followed by Shakespeare Wallah (1965) , Roseland (1977) ,  Hullabaloo Over Georgie and Bonnie’s Pictures (1978) , The Europeans (1979) , Jane Austen in Manhattan (1980) , Quartet (1981) , The Courtesans of Bombay (1983) , Heat and Dust in (1983 ) , The Bostonians (1984) , Madame Sousatzka (1988) , Mr. and Mrs. Bridge (1990) , Jefferson in Paris (1995) , Surviving Picasso (1996) , A Soldier’s Daughter Never Cries (1998) , the screenplay for which she co-authored with Ivory, The Golden Bowl (2000) and The City of Your Final Destination (2009) which was adapted from the eponymous novel by Peter Cameron and was her last screenplay.Le Divorce which she co-wrote with Ivory was the last movie that featured the trio of Merchant, Ivory and Jhabvala before Merchant’s death that year.

The Triumvirate : Ivory , Merchant & Jhabvala

She won her first Academy Award for her screenplay for A Room with a View (1986) and won a second in the same category for Howards End (1992) . She was nominated for a third Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay the following year for The Remains of the Day  (1993) .

Selected screenplays

Year	Title	Other notes
2008	The City of Your Final Destination	screenplay, adapted from the novel by Peter Cameron
2003	Le Divorce	co-written by James Ivory, adapted from the novel by Diane Johnson
2000	The Golden Bowl	screenplay, adapted from the novel by Henry James
1998	A Soldier’s Daughter Never Cries	screenplay, adapted from the novel by Kaylie Jones
1996	Surviving Picasso	screenplay
1995	Jefferson in Paris	written by
1993	The Remains of the Day	screenplay, adapted from the novel by Kazuo Ishiguro
1992	Howards End	screenplay, adapted from the novel by E. M. Forster
1990	Mr. and Mrs. Bridge	screenplay, adapted from the novels by Evan S. Connell (“Mr. Bridge” & “Mrs. Bridge”)
1988	Madame Sousatzka	screenplay, adapted from the novel by Bernice Rubens. Directed by John Schlesinger
1985	A Room with a View	screenplay, adapted from the novel by E. M. Forster
1984	The Bostonians	screenplay, adapted from the novel by Henry James
1983	Heat and Dust	screenplay, adapted from the novel by Jhabvala
1981	Quartet	screenplay, adapted from the novel by Jean Rhys
1980	Jane Austen in Manhattan	written by, inserted libretto “Sir Charles Grandison” by Jane Austen
1979	The Europeans	screenplay, adapted from the novel by Henry James
1978	Hullabaloo Over Georgie and Bonnie’s Pictures	written by
1977	Roseland	story and screenplay
1975	Autobiography of a Princess	written by
1972	Bombay Talkie	screenplay
1969	The Guru	screenplay
1965	Shakespeare Wallah	screenplay
1963	The Householder	screenplay, adapted from the novel by Jhabvala

This two-time Oscar winner for her screenplays will also be remembered for her unforgettable novels and short stories like :

Novels and short stories

• To Whom She Will (1955; published in the United States as Amrita)
• The Nature of Passion (1956).
• Esmond in India (1958)
• The Householder (1960)
• Get Ready for Battle (1962)
• Like Birds, Like Fishes (1963)
• A Backward Place (1965)
• A Stronger Climate (1968)
• An Experience of India (1971)
• A New Dominion (1972; published in the United States as Travelers)
• Heat and Dust (1975)
• How I Became a Holy Mother and other stories (1976),
• In Search of Love and Beauty (1983)
• Out of India (1986)
• Three Continents (1987)
• Poet and Dancer (1993)
• Shards of Memory (1995)
• East Into Upper East: Plain Tales from New York and New Delhi (1998)
• My Nine Lives (2004)

She will be missed . I saw her film ” The Householder ” in Palace talkies of Allahabad and was moved that two Indian actors ; Shashi Kapoor and Leela Naidu , played the main protagonists in the film , which she wrote . Though at that time I didn’t know that the writer of the film is Ruth Prawer Jhabvala .

On behalf of all the students and staff of my acting institute  Vidur’s Kreating Charakters , I offer my condolences . May her soul rest in peace !

 

[ I have taken the list of her films and name of the novels and short stories written by her from Wikipedia . Certain other facts and data is also taken from Wikipedia . As I always do , I express my profound gratitude . ]

 

VIDUR

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA

www.vidur.co.in

www.kreatingcharakters.net

www.facebook.com/VidursKreatingCharacters

www.facebook.com/vidur.chaturvedi

www.vidurfilms.com

www.youtube.com/ividur

www.twitter.com/VidurChaturvedi

www.jaibhojpuri.com/profile/VidurChaturvedi

Related articles

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B. M. Vyas Is No More

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA           MARCH 15 , 2013           00.50 A.M.

A veteran actor of mythological and some social Hindi films , Shri B. M. Vyas died on March 11 , 2013 at the age of 93 in Mumbai .

B. M. Vyas in His Younger Days

Famous for his portrayal of Ravan in several mythological films , Shri B. M. Vyas started his career with Chetan Anand’s ” Neecha Nagar “ but was noticed with Raj Kapoor’s ” Barsaat “  in 1949 . He acted in over 300 mythological and social films including films like ” Baiju Bawra ” , ” Do Aankhen Barah Haath “ and ” Sarawasti Chandra ” . His last big film was Shah Rukh Khan starrer ” Oh Darling Yeh Hai India ” .

As Ravan in ” Sampoorn Ramayan “

Some Famous Films of B. M. Vyas As An Actor

============================================

Hatyarin , Chhath Maiya Ki Mahima , Har Har Gange 1979 , Jai Mahalaxmi Maa ,  Daku Aur Bhagwan , Toofan 1975 , Jay Jwala , Ek Paheli , Harishchandra Taramati , Har Har Gange , Nawab Sirazuddaula , Saraswati Chandra , Jadu ,  Jahan Sati Wahim Bhagawan , SEE RANK Maharaja Vikram , Hercules ,  Harishchandra Taramati 1963 , Lal Quila 1961 , Amar Shaheed , Howrah Express , Saranga , Sampoorna Ramayan , Chand Mere Aja , Chaand Mere Aaja ,  Chandra Mukhi , Chand Ki Duniya , Samrat Chandragupt , Janam Janam Ke Phere , Rani Roopmati , Tumsa Nahin Dekha 1957 , Hum Panchhi Ek Daal Ke ,  Awara , Aastik , Hatimtai , Veer Rajputani , Tilottama , Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu  & Baiju Bawra

There are some other famous films of Shri B. M. Vyas , which I would like to mention for the benefit of new generation :

Movies of B.M. Vyas

Aladdin Aur Jadui Chirag (1952) Mahipal, Meena Kumari, B.M. Vyas, S.N. Tripathi, W.M. Khan, Jillo, Babu Raje, Azim, Raja Sandow P.K., Urmila, Vasantrao Pahelwan, Amarnath, M.K. Hasan, Bismillah, Dalpat Watch Online Alibaba And 40 Thieves (1966) Sanjeev Kumar, L. Vijayalakshmi, Indira, Tabassum, B.M. Vyas, David, Veena, S.N. Tripathi Watch Online Alibaba and Forty Thieves (1954) Mahipal, Sharda, B.M. Vyas, S.N. Tripathi, Dalpat, Maruti Rao, Azim, Lalita Kumari, Sardar Mansur Watch Online Amber (1952) Raj Kapoor, Nargis, Agha, Bipin Gupta, Ramesh Sinha, Samson, S.B. Nayampalli, B.M. Vyas, Cuckoo, Tanuja Watch Online Awara (1951) Prithviraj Kapoor, Raj Kapoor, Nargis, K.N. Singh, Shashi Kapoor, B.M. Vyas, Leela Mishra, Leela Chitnis, Om Prakash Mehra, Dewan Basheswarnath Kapoor, Helen Watch Online Baghavat (1982) Dharmendra, Hema Malini, Reena Roy, Amjad Khan, Urmila Bhatt, Birbal, Padma Chavan, Viju Khote, Sujit Kumar, Manmauji, B.M. Vyas, Dinesh Thakur Watch Online Baiju Bawra (1952) Meena Kumari, Bharat Bhushan, Bipin Gupta, B.M. Vyas, Surendra, Kuldip Kaur, Mishra, Kesari, Radhakrishan, Tabassum, Rai Mohan Watch Online Barsaat (1949) Raj Kapoor, Nargis, K.N. Singh, Prem Nath, Cuckoo, Nimmi, B.M. Vyas, Ratan Gaurang, Vishwa Mehra Watch Online Bhagwan Samaye Sansar Mein (1976) Ashish Kumar, Kanan Kaushal, Abhi Bhattacharya, B.M. Vyas, Jayshree T., Mohan Choti, Jeevan, Alankar Joshi, Lalita Kumari, Hansa Lokhande, Sunder, Chand Usmani Watch Online Char Dervesh (1964) Feroz Khan, Sayeeda Khan, Kumari Naaz, Ratnamala, Jeevan Kala, Paul Sharma, B.M. Vyas, Mukri, Sunder, Amarnath, W.M. Khan, Pal Sharma, Sardar Mansur, Nazir Kashmiri, Dalpat Watch Online Do Ankhen Barah Haath (1957) Rajaram Vankudre Shantaram, Sandhya, Ulhas, B.M. Vyas, Paul Sharma, S.K. Singh, Shankarrao Bhosle Watch Online Duniya Jhukti Hai (1960) Sunil Dutt, Shyama, B.M. Vyas, Kumkum, Agha, Wasti, W.M. Khan, Habib, Daisy Irani Watch Online Ek Paheli (1971) Sanjeev Kumar, Feroz Khan, Tanuja, Rajendra Nath, Madan Puri, Jeevan, Aruna Irani, Manohar Deepak, Bipin Gupta, Uma Khosla, B.M. Vyas, Tun Tun Watch Online Harishchandra Taramati (1963) Prithviraj Kapoor, Jaymala, B.M. Vyas, Helen, Ulhas, Ramayan Tiwari, Babu Raje, P. Kailash, Babloo Watch Online Hatim Tai (1956) Jairaj, Shakila, Meenaxi, Naina, Krishna Kumari, Kamal, Menaka, S.N. Tripathi, B.M. Vyas, Sheikh, Dalpat Watch Online Hum Panchhi Ek Daal Ke (1957) Master Romi, Satish Vyas, Daisy Irani, Jagdeep, Mohan Choti, David Abraham, Murad, Maruti Rao, B.M. Vyas, Krishnakant, Achala Sachdev Watch Online Jahan Sati Wahan Bhagwan (1965) Prithviraj, Anita Guha, Sulochana Chatterjee, Mahipal, Krishna Kumari, Mohan Choti, Madhumati, B.M. Vyas, Praveen Paul, Santosh Kumar Watch Online Jai Santoshi Maa (1975) Anita Guha, Bharat Bhushan, Ashish Kumar, Kanan Kaushal, Trilok Kapoor, Rajni Bala, B.M. Vyas, Leela Mishra, Rajan Haksar, Moolchand Watch Online Janam Janam Ke Phere: Alias Sati Anapurna (1957) Nirupa Roy, Manher Desai, B.M. Vyas, S.N. Tripathi, Satish Vyas, Kanta Kumari, Mahipal, Krishna Kumari, Champaklala Watch Online Lav-Kush (1967) Ashim Kumar, Jayshree Gadkar, Babloo, Sushil Kumar, Kanu Roy, Munna, Bela Bose, S.N. Tripathi, Chitra, Dalpat, B.M. Vyas, Hari Shukla, Chandrima Bhaduri, Bhagwan Singh, R.C. Pandey Watch Online Maha Pawan Tirth Yatra (1975) Ashish Kumar, Rajni Bala, Mahipal, Jeevan, Shashi Modak, B.M. Vyas, Anita Guha Watch Online Mangalsutra (1981) Rekha, Anant Nag, Prema Narayan, Madan Puri, Om Shivpuri, B.M. Vyas, Rajendra Nath, Keshto Mukherjee, Asit Sen, Jagdeep Watch Online Maya Machhindra (1975) Abhi Bhattacharya, Kanan Kaushal, B.M. Vyas, Jeevan Watch Online Murder In Circus (1971) Nisar Ahmad Ansari, M.B. Shetty, Sujit, Jaymala, Bela Bose, B.M. Vyas, Sapru Watch Online Nag Panchami (1953) Nirupa Roy, Manohar Desai, B.M. Vyas, Durga Khote, Tiwari Watch Online Oh Darling Yeh Hai India (1995) Shah Rukh Khan, Deepa Sahi, Amrish Puri, Anupam Kher, Javed Jaffrey, Tinnu Anand, Tiku Talsania, Shri Vallabh Vyas, Sadashiv Amrapurkar, Tom Alter, Kader Khan, Shri Vallabh Vyas, Raza Murad, B.M. Vyas, Anil Nagrath, Ranjana Sharma, Ranjeet, Ravi Gossain Watch Online Patita (1953) Dev Anand, Usha Kiran, Agha, Shivraj, Krishnakant, C.S. Dubey, Sonny Abraham, B.M. Vyas, Lalita Pawar Watch Online Puja Aur Payal (1980) Sujit Kumar, Sonali, Madhumati, Ram Mohan, B.M. Vyas, Sunil Dutt, Sanjeev Kumar, Jaya Bhaduri, Madan Puri, Johnny Walker Watch Online Rani Rupmati (1957) Bharat Bhushan, Nalini Chonkar, Ulhas, B.M. Vyas, Nirupa Roy, Babu Raje, Amarnath, Rajrani Watch Online Razia Sultan (1983) Dharmendra, Hema Malini, Parveen Babi, Pradeep Kumar, Vijayendra, Ajit, Jankidas, B.M. Vyas, Mumtaz Begum, Shribhagwan, Heena Kausar, Anu Dhawan, Veena, Sohrab Modi, Sarika, Radha Saluja, Bijoya Jena, Madhu Malini, Gopi Krishna, Shahu Modak, Aarti Chopra Watch Online Sampoorna Ramayana (1961) Mahipal, Anita Guha, Sulochana Latkar, Helen, Lalita Pawar, Achala Sachdev, Krishna Kumari, Raj Kumar, Uma Dutt, B.M. Vyas, Badri Prasad, Paul Sharma Watch Online Samrat Prithviraj Chauhan (1959) Anita Guha, B.M. Vyas, Chand Usmani, Jairaj, Leela Mishra, Prem Adib, Sulochana, Ulhas Watch Online Sant Ravidas Ki Amar Kahani (1983) Ashish Kumar, B.M. Vyas, Mahipal, Rajendra Nath, Tun Tun, Mohan Choti, Shekhar Purohit Watch Online Saranga (1960) Sudesh Kumar, Jayshree Gadkar, Nilofar, B.M. Vyas, Niranjan Sharma, Jankidas, Sadiq, Parsuram, Jaya Devi Watch Online Saraswatichandra (1968) Nutan Behl, Manish, Vijaya Choudhury, Ramesh Deo, Sulochana Latkar, B.M. Vyas, Seema Deo, Jeevan Kala, S.B. Nayampalli, Sulochana Chatterjee, Shivraj Watch Online Sati Naari (1965) Anita Guha, Manohar Desai, Jeevan, Sunder, B.M. Vyas, Ulhas, Ram Singh Watch Online Sheikh Chilli (1956) Shyama, Mahipal, Agha, B.M. Vyas, Bhagwan Watch Online Shravan Kumar (1960) Anant Kumar, Achala Sachdev, B.M. Vyas, Nalini Chonkar, Sunder, Polson Watch Online Shree Ram Bharat Milan (1965) Prithviraj Kapoor, Nirupa Roy, Mahipal, Anita Guha, Sulochana, B.M. Vyas, Niranjan Sharma, Vanamala, Shekhar Purohit, Aruna Irani Watch Online Solah Shukrawar (1977) Rajni Bala, Indira Bansal, Abhi Bhattacharya, Bharat Bhushan, Bela Bose, Sushil Chak, Manek Chaudhary, Ramesh Deo, Ramesh Dubey, Manher Desai, Manik Dutt, Dilip Dutt, L.M. Ganu, Anita Guha, Tarun Ghosh, Anuradha Guha, Ashish Kumar, Meenakshi, Leelavathi, Polson, Prema Narayan, B.M. Vyas Watch Online Tarzan Aur Jadui Chirag (1966) Azad Shaban, Sunita, B.M. Vyas, Dalpat, Tun Tun, Kesari, Sheikh, Shakeela Bano Bhopali, Jani Babu, Kammo Watch Online Thief of Baghdad (1969) Dara Singh, Nishi, Helen, B.M. Vyas, Mohan Sherry, Sheikh, Savita, Rani, Moolchand, Maruti, Ram Kumar, P. Kailash Watch Online Toofan (1975) Vikram, Priyadarshinee, Jeevan, Jagdeep, Roopesh Kumar, P. Jairaj, Trilok Kapoor, Sajjan, B.M. Vyas, Rajan Haksar, Urmila Bhatt, Praveen Paul, Meena T. Watch Online Tumsa Nahin Dekha (1957) Shammi Kapoor, Ameeta, Pran, Raj Mehra, B.M. Vyas, Sheela Vaz, Ram Avtar, Anjali Devi, M.B. Shetty, S.L. Puri Watch Online Veer Babruwahan (1950) Shashi Kapoor, S.N. Tripathi, Jankidas, B.M. Vyas Watch Online Yeh Raat Phir Na Aaygi (1966) Prithviraj Kapoor, Biswajeet, Sharmila Tagore, Sailesh Kumar, Mumtaz, Helen, Madhumati, B.M. Vyas, Asit Sen, Labiby Mady Watch Online Zabak (1961) Mahipal, Shyama, Krishna Kumari, Sahira, B.M. Vyas, Achala Sachdev, Manher Desai, Uma Dutt, Muzaffar Adeeb, W.M. Khan, Babu Raje Watch Online

I pay respect to Shri B. M. Vyas and pray to God to give him everlasting peace and solitude .

I must admit it was difficult to gather information about Shri Vyas . I rummaged through many websites and gathered information about him and his films . I wanted to put the information about his films and the posters of his films in my blog space so that students of my acting institute , Vidur’s Kreating Charakters  should know at least a little bit about him and his histrionics .

So called best acting schools of Mumbai are silent about him . Self – proclaimed famous acting institutes of India have no time for a veteran like B. M. Vyas . Upstarts of some acting classes of Bollywood are not bothered about this chapter of our film industry . They are busy abusing me on social net – working sites and blowing their own rotten , rickety trumpets .

I pay my respect and will always remember ” Sampoorn Ramayan “ , in which he played Ravan to the hilt . I saw the film during my childhood and loved his portrayal of Ravan .

[ I have taken information and trivia about his films from a website : http://www.fridaycinemas.com/MoviesByCelebrities.aspx?Cname=B.M.%20Vyas

I express my gratitude ]

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Hugo Chavez of Venezuela

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA           MARCH 08 , 2013           03.50 P.M.

I don’t think Latin American countries attract attention of  many Indians . Even a discerning student of world history and general knowledge will find it difficult to name all the countries of the region . To know the names of the ruling presidents and prime ministers of the Latin American countries is next to impossible . But Hugo Chavez attracted attention and till his death he continuously dominated the headlines of news papers of the world .

Hugo Chávez, President since 1999. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías ; ( 28 July 1954 – 5 March 2013 ) was the President of Venezuela from 1999 until his death in 2013. He was formerly the leader of the Fifth Republic Movement political party from its foundation in 1997 until 2007, when it merged with several other parties to form the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), which he led until his death.

The logo for the PSUV, Chávez’s openly socialist political party founded in 2007. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Following his own political ideology of Bolivarianism and “socialism of the 21st century“, he focused on implementing socialist reforms in the country as a part of a social project known as the Bolivarian Revolution, which has seen the implementation of a new constitution, participatory democratic councils, the nationalization of several key industries, increased government funding of health care and education, and significant reductions in poverty.Under Chavez, Venezuelans’ quality of life improved and the poverty rate fell from 48.6 percent in 2002 to 29.5 percent in 2011, according to the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America.

Born into a working-class family in Sabaneta, Barinas, Chávez became a career military officer, and after becoming dissatisfied with the Venezuelan political system, he founded the secretive Revolutionary Bolivarian Movement-200 (MBR-200) in the early 1980s to work towards overthrowing it. Chávez led the MBR-200 in an unsuccessful coup d’état against the Democratic Action government of President Carlos Andrés Pérez in 1992, for which he was imprisoned. Released from prison after two years, he founded a social democratic political party, the Fifth Republic Movement, and was elected president of Venezuela in 1998.

Venezuelan president Carlos Andrés Pérez in 1975 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

While I was going through the article about him in Times of India , I came to know some startling facts about Venezuela under Chavez rule .

1 – Chavez nationalized the oil industry and then used the export earnings for poverty eradication , healthcare and general education .

2 – During his tenure , poverty dropped dramatically in Venezuela . From 61% in 1997 it dropped to 33% .

3 – During Chavez era share of extremely poor dropped from 30% to 9% .

4 – He made education free up to university level . Now one in three Venezuelans is currently enrolled in higher education . This ratio is the 5th highest ratio in the world . UNESCO has recognized that illiteracy has been eliminated in Venezuela .

5 – During Chavez rule , food imports was reduced . From 90% in 1980 it came to 30% in 2011 .

6 – Due to food programmes and boost to food production during Chavez rule malnutrition dropped to 5% .

7 – Infant mortality dropped from 25 per 1000 in 1990 to 13 in 2010 .

8 – From 18 doctors per 10,000 people , Venezuela now boasts 58 doctors per 10,000 .

9 – 96% of the population of Venezuela has now access to clean drinking water .

My admiration for Chavez grew after going through these statistics . Earlier Venezuela was not even known to many . And now the whole world is mourning Chavez’s death . From the ruler of an unknown country , he became a world figure .

I , along with all the current students and staff of Vidur’s Kreating Charakters  , deeply mourn his death . May his soul rest in peace .

[ I have taken few facts of Chavez's life from Wikipedia . Statistics about Venezuela have been taken from Times of India . I express my gratitude . ]

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Ah ! Captain Saurabh Kalia , We Are Ungrateful

Captain Saurabh Kalia (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA           DECEMBER 31, 2012           05.00 P.M.

Very few people in India remember Captain Saurabh Kalia or even know about him . It is shame , but it is true . Captain Saurabh Kalia was captured by Pakistani army during Kargil war of 1999 and was mercilessly murdered after brutal and inhuman torture . He was just 22 years old at the time of his death .

I have nothing new to say on Captain Saurabh Kalia’s case . I am re-tweeting some relevant tweets about Captain Kalia’s case from the twitter handle of Andhra Pradesh BJP IT Cell . I hope , for discerning and nationalist people , it will be a gentle and tearful reminder about the martyr . For heartless and emotionless brutes , nothing matters . For Congress , the Indian National Congress , the next election is more important and Captain Kalia can’t assure them victory . So for them he is not that important .

Andhra Pradesh BJP IT Cell , in fact , tweeted the verses of Venki . I was moved while going through the lines .

28 Dec AP BJP IT Cell ‏@AP_BJP_IT_Cell

Lets Hang our head in shame while we read these Verses by Venki about Capt Saurab Kalia’s Sacrifice 1/15

 

28 Dec AP BJP IT Cell ‏@AP_BJP_IT_Cell

They didn’t just pluck your eyes out, Capt Saurabh Kalia, They gouged out ours too. 2/15

 

28 Dec AP BJP IT Cell ‏@AP_BJP_IT_Cell

Or would we have been blind to your father’s agony, His cry for ‘justice’ for all these years? 3/15

 

28 Dec AP BJP IT Cell ‏@AP_BJP_IT_Cell

They didn’t just pierce your eardrums, Capt Kalia, They poured hot oil in ours too. 4/15

 

28 Dec AP BJP IT Cell ‏@AP_BJP_IT_Cell

Or would we be deaf to your mother’s fitful sobs And her pitiful cry of anguish? 5/15

 

28 Dec AP BJP IT Cell ‏@AP_BJP_IT_Cell

They didn’t just burn your chest, Capt Kalia, They carved out our bleeding hearts too. 6/15

 

28 Dec AP BJP IT Cell ‏@AP_BJP_IT_Cell

Or would we, as a nation, have been so heartless As to forget our Kargil war hero? 7/15

 

28 Dec AP BJP IT Cell ‏@AP_BJP_IT_Cell

They didn’t just mangle your private parts, Capt Kalia, They castrated an entire nation. 8/15

 

28 Dec AP BJP IT Cell ‏@AP_BJP_IT_Cell

Or would we be so impotent that we yearn for aman While they plot yet more jihadi crimes? 9/15

 

28 Dec AP BJP IT Cell ‏@AP_BJP_IT_Cell

When they ambushed you in the Kargil heights, Capt Kalia, They waylaid every one of us. 10/15

 

28 Dec AP BJP IT Cell ‏@AP_BJP_IT_Cell

But you died so that we may live Our shameless, ungrateful lives. 11/15

 

28 Dec AP BJP IT Cell ‏@AP_BJP_IT_Cell

We sent you to war at age 22, Capt Kalia, Which is no viable diable age. 12/15

 

28 Dec AP BJP IT Cell ‏@AP_BJP_IT_Cell

And yet, we have failed to honour you The way your father sought. 13/15

 

AP BJP IT Cell ‏@AP_BJP_IT_Cell

Shame on us – and , Mother India, That you would send your son to war And yet not collect his martyred ashes Or even shed a silent tear. 14/15

It is shameful that we have almost forgotten Captain Saurabh Kalia , a 22-year-old captain of our army and a martyr of 1999 Kargil war .

I have been often asked , why I keep on writing about matters other than actors , acting and acting institute ? My simple answer is that I want my students to know , apart from films , about our great nation , about the history of India and about the struggle of our national heroes . I am unable to think only about the next batch of my acting school or the coming films of my acting students .

I want my acting students to know about Captain Saurabh Kalia , a martyr , who sacrificed his today for our better tomorrow . On behalf of all the students and staff of Vidur’s Kreating Charakters  , I pay my homage to the brave son of Bharat Mata .

Alas ! we have almost forgotten him .

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